Day conference for owners and building professionals at Haughley Park Barn on Thursday 14th October 2010.

A distinguished expert panel can help you find the right solution including English Heritage, SPAB & The Energy Saving Trust.
A thorough, independent review of renewable technologies, their application and grants available to help reduce the carbon
footprint of traditional buildings.

The conference will explore the way in which the carbon footprint of traditional buildings can be reduced by increased energy efficiency, thereby making a positive contribution to the challenge of global warming.

The day will focus on a review of the technical as well as statutory considerations of improving the thermal efficiency of traditional buildings, as well as reviewing the range of renewable technologies
and their appropriateness in the context of the historic built environment. The conference will also consider the financial considerations of these technologies and sources of grant aid. The afternoon will focus on a series of case studies of the adaptation and “retrofitting” of traditional buildings by building professionals.

This one day conference is for historic property owners, building professionals, conservation officers, planners and everyone concerned with the greening of our communities.

Their programme of events 2010 also includes tours of North Suffolk Farmhouses on 14th Sepetember. Click images for more information.

Dedham Youth Club have successfully applied for a grant to plant 2630 trees and hedging in and around Dedham village as part of a tree initiative offered to them by the Essex Community Foundation in association with Essex County Council.

Part of the grant must be used to fund materials and labour for the actual planting but the residual will be available as a much needed contribution towards the cost of club activity over the next year.

On Sunday 30 November and Sunday 7 December a total of 2500 mixed British hedging stock was planted along a half kilometre stretch of open land adjacent to Dedham Footpath 31 which runs between Manningtree Road and East Lane. Although hawthorn was the predominate choice a number of rowan, sweet chestnut, whitebeam and oak were included. This new planting programme means that a wide open field space, owned by Moorhouse Farms, will benefit from traditional British hedging. The site was chosen after discussions with the Dedham Vale (AONB) and Stour Valley Project's, Operations Manager, Simon Amstutz.

Spring-time visitors to Flatford Mill this year will soon become aware of a programme of tree felling along the meadow on the west side of the River Stour. One immediate effect of this is to open up views from Flatford which have been hidden for years. Whilst the poplar trees may appear relatively healthy to the casual observer the clear message from the various bodies that have come together to pursue this programme is that the trees are non-native hybrids planted for commercial purposes and are in any case, diseased. Additionally the timber will be used by residents of Old Hall for their wood-burning boiler.

What is being achieved by their removal is a landscape that much more closely resembles that of the period 250-years ago when John Constable lived nearby and produced some of his best-known work.

 

In early April 2008 work started on the removal of 4-miles of low voltage overhead power lines in one of the Dedham Vale’s most popular areas. Many thousands of walkers enjoy the three and half mile round trip between Dedham and Flatford Mill each year and their enjoyment should be heightened from the middle of July 2008 as the last posts and sections of overhead wire will have been removed. The three month project is part of a £2.9million scheme, funded by the Industry Regulator Ofgem and carried out by the contractor Morrisons for EDF Energy with the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project having played a major part in the coordinating of the project.

A large part of the early stages of the work was the digging of trenches and the dropping of new power cables, much of which went on without any noticeable change to the environment. From 10 July however the real benefit of this work will be seen by countryside users for the first time as a much-loved area of ‘Constable Country’ can be enjoyed without the intrusion of two separate 2-mile lengths of overhead power lines.

The beautiful meadows between Dedham and Flatford Mill have only the occasional farm vehicle to disturb the tranquility of the area but as reported a programme of tree-felling is temporarily being witnessed by the many hundreds of walkers who daily enjoy the area. Whilst this is progressing at the Flatford end of the river, ramblers and dog walkers at the Dedham end are also witnessing the unusual sight of intense activity.

It is a very temporary phenomenom however, and, as with the felling, a development that is much to be welcomed. The items about the forthcoming burying of power lines in the Dedham Vale (Topical News February 2008) can now be updated with the information that work started on 7th April 2008. As with the tree felling (topical news 12th April) the work is being spearheaded by the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project as the following newly displayed notice makes clear.

John Osborn, 14th April 2008

The following brief, but no doubt welcome, item about the proposal to site a Park and Ride location in Langham was announced by DVS Committee Member Roger Drury on 9th April 2008

At the Joint Member Area Highway Panel on 27 March, Geoff Harris, ECC Highways Authority, reported that " ECC had considered the recent developer application, which included Park & Ride at Langham. The ECC's view was that this would not be appropriate and would stick with its original strategy for the Cuckoo Farm Site."

Roger Drury 9th April 2008